Trailer hitch



May 9, 1950 Filed Oct. 10, 1947 D. D. AREHART TRAILER HITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

May 9, 1950 D. D AREHART TRAILER HITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1947 INVENTR.

nl :Illl ill I III III llllll lllvll Patented May 9, 1950 i *QQFFJC 2,507,189 TRAILER LHITCH mavid D. .AreharL-lFlint, Mich.,iassig'nor toPalace y Cor'poration, e'Flint, Mich., a :corporation -of "Michigan hpplicaticnflctober 10, f947,Serial'No. 779,015

(omen-33.9)

"7 Claims. 1

This "invention relates "to a new and impro'ved trailer hitch, "and more parneuian to a hit'ch which selectively distrlbutes "the trailer dead on *the 'front and rear "wheels 'of a towing vehicle and onthe trail'er wheel's.

This present invention is in the nature :of a modification and im rovement on "the Trailer hitch shown in my application, Serial No. '6493534jfile'd February' 23, 1946.

While the p'resen't -hitch f is of Wide "application and may be used to connect trailers of various types to "-commer'cral "types of tractors, itiiis aparticularly useful in eonne'cting two wheeled trailers to u's'u'al types of p'assenger cars. The

trailers havin'g dual or taniiem wheels, but 1in "which theload is unbalanced I'so that "a portion 'of F the load is normally carried by the towing vehicle. 'The hitch may he used with srnaller cargo trailers or' -the like, but i's 'o'f "greatest :utility in connection with house it'raile'rs I or "other rela- 'tively heavy trailers which impose a substantial vertical load dn the' rear wheels' and springs i of the towing weenie-when connected by ineans of usual types of trailer hitches.

The usual ypes of trailer hitches provide various means for pivotally coniiecting the 1f 0rward *end or ;-e'Xtensio'n :of a trailer name to "a fitting secured toithe rear 'bumper 'an'd rear portion of thecha'ssis frame of the-towing vehicle. The trailer .is normally provided "*with wheels well to the rear -"of its 'c'e'nt'er of imass "so "as to "render the itf'le'r saie 'against ti'pping rear- Werdly underf'all conditi'ons df use. In a typical jcon'stru'c'tl'oh, the tl-il'r Whels al'e placed with approximately tWo tlii iiis or the trailer uo'cate'a ror'waraly *of th'e" tl'ailer wheels. 'Thlis whn this unbalanced loa'd"is "apiilie'd to the r'eelr "of a motor car, it depresse's the irear springs and lowers the rear er the car. This action iles a tendency --to "unbalance the weight *ofthe car itself and caiise rnore of to be er-ansm'itted to "the I rear exile. The "trailer lo'ad is applied' to "the-cantilever ove" in the iearof frontazile. 'Thisinay cau's'e loss of nae-sen the front wheels siifiiizieiit to render ste' with these wheels inefficient, especfallyfunder slippery ro'ad 'c'onditi'on's.

Attempts are madeto' borrect these unbalanced -'conditions *hy adding*extfa "still l-eaves in the rear springs "or 'theitolvi'ng Vehicle. Such attempts are expensive and render the vehicle less satisfactory infuse-when not towing "the trailer. *They 839 5180 sli gl iiilfy fl'etiiie in correcting the real difiiculties, as the lea-direfmains unbalanced with rthe rear 'axlefand tires heavily "overloaded.

'It is an object of *the present invention to provide a "trailer hitch of the sload distributing type'by which'the trailerii's readily attachedand easily disconnectedrfiom the towing vehicle.

It is a "furtherlobject to provide ta hitch :rof this "character in which :a :resilient connection for -:a tension me'mher is 1 provided "on the towing vehicle.

It is an additional t ohjtect to provide a "con- "struction including a swinging :ihook connection 'on the vehicleffor attaching the" tension member.

It. is a further object ito provide "a hitch which is simple in design-land iconstru'ction and designed for commercial production and use.

Other and further objects 'will appear as "the description "proceeds.

I have shown icertain preferred .emhodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings, iin'vwhich':

Figure 1 is :a side elevation of -the hitch showiing portions of the "vehicle and trailer; 7

' Figure :2 ista v pl'an View of #the trailer portion of the hitch;

Figure "3 is an :enlarged detail view taken 'on line :'33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view of the -main portions of the .ihitch 'fOn an enlarged scale.

fieferring 'first .to Figure '1, the trailer is shown as provided Withraf'r'ame I, theiorward por- -*tions 'of whichiiincline inwardly and meet in a point which is covered by iplate !2. This plate 12 carries a jack 1'3 "which :raises and lowers .the threaded jack 'rod "or "shaft 'h'l. The forward portion of ?-the plate lilyas-sho'wn in detail .inI-Figure 4,:is provided with a-socketlii which fits fagains't the rear :and lipper surfaces of :a hall L6. The trailer salso l'carries a stirrup I! pivote'cl at it and adapted to be swung down river the torward portion ofithe ball l6,- as sh'own inFigures .:1:a'nd 4. This stirrup l'! is retained in place by a latch "mechanism "actuated by the .Iatoh "arm &9, "this latch mechanism :h'eing re.- tained in locked position "by means -'of a pin :Z-i! passing through 'a lug :21 'carried by plate 12. The details for thisllo'cliing mechanism nform no part of the present invention and they will not he further described.

The hall "i6 is supported on a shaft 21 which is secured in place on the bracket 22 hy shoulder 23 and nut 2 5. Thefthiiust bracket 25 fits on the upper face ofhracket 122 land ha-s an inclined portion 26 engaging the shaft t"! adjacent the lower ball surface to brace the ball against forward thrust. The bracket 22, as best shown in Figure 1, extends forwardly under the towing vehicle at 28 and is secured to a cross frame member 29 by braces 30 and 31. This bracket is secured to a rear frame member 32 by diagonal brace 33 and vertical brace 34. It will be seen, therefore, that the bracket is thoroughly and rigidly connected to the vehicle frame by a truss structure resistant to deformation by thrust in any direction.

The hook 36 is pivotally supported at 3'! to the lower end of the shaft 2 i The hook is provided with a forwardly extended rear face portion 38 and with a rearward face portion 39, the latter being located substantially vertically below the ball 15 when in normal position, as shown in Figure 4. The lower end of the hook 36 is provided with a hooked portion 43 to receive the eye 4| on the forward end of the tension member 42.

The yoke 44 is pivoted at 45 on a pin carried by strap 56 which is secured to bracket 22 and the connecting member 34. The yoke 44 carries two sliding guide plates 41 and 43, between which is carried a compression coil spring 49. These plates 41 and 48 have notched sides to guide them in their travel on the sides of the yoke 44. The compression of spring 49 is adjusted by the threaded member 50 which is threaded onto the rear end portion 5| of yoke 44.

The jack shaft [4 carries a guide member 53 which is removably fitted on its lower end. The lower end of this member 53 is slotted and carries the roller 54 on pivot 55, the roller engaging an intermediate portion of the tension member 42.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the rear end of the tension member 42 is provided with an eye 56 fitting about a sleeve 5! carried on bolt 58, which bolt passes up through a floor frame member 58 of the trailer and extends down through the trailer frame cross brace member 58. This member has its ends secured to the side frame member ll of the trailer frame. The bolt 53 also passes through a brace plate 6i fitted into the cross frame member 60.

In the use of the hitch, the Vehicle is moved into position adjacent the forward end of the trailer frame so that the socket [5 comes against the rear and upper faces of the ball It. It will be understood that the stirrup l'.', at this time, is in the raised position. When the ball is seated in the socket, the stirrup is lowered and locked in place by handle l9 and pin 20. The jack rod I4 is, at this time, normally in a lower position supporting the forward end of the trailer.

The yoke 44 is swung upwardly to the position indicated in broken lines which permits the hook 36 to swing rearwardly, as shown in broken lines in Figure 4. The eye 4! of tension member 42 is then fitted over the hooked portion 48, after which the hook is swung forward and the yoke brought into full line position. The jack is now raised, the member 53 is now placed in position on the lower end of the jack shaft l4 and the jack is operated to lower the shaft i4 and apply tension to member 42. Tension is applied to the extent necessary to properly raise the rear of the vehicle and the forward portion of the trailer, and thus distribute the load on the vehicle axles in the desired manner.

To disconnect the trailer from the vehicle, the steps outlined are reversed. The first step comprises raising the jack shaft M to relieve tension be formed of a cable or of any other material has its eye 4| placed on hook 40.

having adequate strength and flexibility for the purpose.

In the form of construction shown, the upper members of the truss comprising the trailer frame ll, plate l2 and socket i5 are in compression, the vertical member consisting of the jack shaft I4 is in compression and the flexible member 42 is in tension. The ball shaft 2| and hook 36 form a continuation of the tension member. The ball I6 is held firmly in socket l5 by the pull of the tension member 42, but the ball is permitted a limited vertical and horizontal rotation in the socket. It will be apparent that increased tension on the member 42 not only compresses spring 49 but, when that spring has been compressed, serves to rotate hook 36 and shaft 2! about the center of ball H5 in the clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 4. In actual operation, there is substantial rotation in this direction.

In the use of the form of construction shown, the jack is lowered to support the forward end of the trailer at a suitable height above the ground so that the socket IS in member l2 will clear the top of the ball IS with the vehicle in normal position. The tension member 42 is not in use at this time. The vehicle and trailer are maneuvered to bring the socket above the ball I6, and the jack is lowered so that the socket seats on the ball and the weight of the forward portion of the trailer is taken up by the vehicle. This will cause the rear of the vehicle to sag substantially. The jack I4 is then raised and cable 42 The jack is then forced downwardly until the roller 54 bears on tension member 42. At this time, the trailer and vehicle will still be in the lower position with the weight of the trailer applied to the rear springs and wheels of the vehicle. The jack shaft 14 is then forced downwardly against the cable 42, which has the effect of pulling rearwardly on the hook 36 and rotating the shaft 2| and hook 35 in a clockwise direction. This movement serves to lift the forward end of the trailer and the rear end of the car, although no parts of the hitch are touching the ground. The jack may be adjusted to raise the front of the trailer and rear of the vehicle the desired amount for proper distribution of the trailer load on the front and rear axles of the vehicle and on the trailer wheels.

The action which takes place is due to the fact that the lever formed by the distance between the ball l6 and hook end 40 is substantially at right angles to the chassis frame of the car and is rigidly connected thereto. Thus when the vertical lever turns in a clockwise direction, the chassis frame turns in the same direction. It actually moves about the rear axle as a pivot so that the rear of the car comes up and the front goes down because of the spring suspension of the vehicle wheels. If the wheels were rigidly connected to the frame, the rear wheels could be lifted clear of the ground by actuating the jack to apply tension to the members, and if suflicient mouldbeihadwwithasprlngmuspendediwheels;

Such actionzismnt desiredzinzpractice; but'itiis itlrezpurpnsesof the :construetiomto distribute the load xproperly :betvzeen "the ifrontzand :rearv axles not the vehicle while maintaining tans-adequate .mortion'ioi cthe Zload the rear wheels ifor ref-- etectiveatraction.

.the vertical distance between the :ball joint rand tension member connection'maybe any reasonable distance, .it has. been iound in practice that nine or ten inches'provides adequatestiffness and leverage for usual types ofih'ouse trailersattached :to a standard automobile.

The discussion of the operation has been directed to the condition where the trailer wheels and the two sets of vehicle wheels are on a continuous straight support, whether level or inclined. It will be apparent that conditions will be changed when the car and trailer pass over a sharp crest or over a, pronounced depression. In passing over a crest, the tension member will slack up somewhat but the tension will be taken up as soon as all wheels are again on a continuous straight surface. The spring 49 and swinging hook 36 are provided to take care of the situation when the car and trailer pass over a sharp depression. If there were no yielding in the tension member, a condition might arise in which the combination was supported entirely on the front vehicle wheels and the trailer wheels. Normal difierences in the height of the support of the various wheels are largely taken care of by the spring suspensions of the several wheels. The resilience of the coil spring is important in taking care of sharp difierences in elevation and in minimizing the difficulties of as long a combined wheel base as the distance between the front vehicle axle and the trailer wheels. The spring 49 also serves to take up slack or decreased tension in member 42 when the vehicle and trailer pass over a sharp crest.

While I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention, these are to be understood as illustrative only, as it is capable of variation and changes to meet difiering conditions and requirements, and I contemplate such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a trailer hitch for connecting a vehicle and a trailer comprising a pivoted connection between rigid members of the vehicle and trailer, a tension member connecting the vehicle and trailer, said tension member extending below the pivotally connected rigid members, one end of said tension member being positively connected to a rigid portion of the trailer, resiliently yielding means carried by the vehicle, the other end of the tension member being connected to the yielding means, and means for applying tension to the tension member.

2. In a trailer hitch for connecting a vehicle and a trailer comprising a pivoted connection between rigid members of the vehicle and trailer, a tension member connecting the vehicle and trailer, said tension member being located below the pivotally connected rigid members, one end of said tension member being connected to a .rigid portion of the trailer, resiliently yielding arrangeandiaiiiusrtmentweremroiddeii;rthatnesult 'iifieailsiicalitidiby the vehicle, the other send at itheatension.memberibeingzeonnectedvtoatheiyield- :ingzmeans ,sand means'rorfiapplyingitension-to .tne ttensionimembenrsaid lastmamedzmeansicnmprisling :an adjustable scompression :m'ember learned by the trailer and engaginganiintermediate:pornon of lth'e itension member.

Illnsa trailer ihitch ifor ec'onne'ctin'g ;a vehicle sand ta itrailer :c'o'mprising :a .pivoted monne'ction Ififrbetween:rigidimembers:of the'avehicle and .trailer,

tension member connecting ithe tvehiclefand :trailerxsaid ztensicnimember :being located below --tlre :pivotally eormected :rigid 'memberspone eend v n'ftsaid ZtBIlSiOll. member being comaected'iftoaa 1'5 irrgid iiportion-of the trailer, resiliently yielding i'nreans married" by vthe'gvehicle, :said means com- I lplIiSiIIg' a heok :merriber pivoted :to the vehicle to sewing in -a vertica1 rplaneialong ith'e axis :01? the wehiziI-e, :resilierit-mieans connected to the enie-1e adapted to resist rearward swinging of the hook between rigid members of the vehicle and trailer,

a tension member connecting the vehicle and trailer, said tension member being located below the pivotally connected rigid members, one

end of said tension member being connected to a rigid portion of the trailer, resiliently yielding means carried by the vehicle, said means comprising a hook member pivoted to the vehicle to swing in a vertical plane along the axis of the vehicle, resilient means connected to the vehicle adapted to resist rearward swinging of the hook member, the resilient means comprising a yoke pivoted to the vehicle, the yoke carrying a compressing spring acting against the rear face of the hook member, the other end of the tension member being detachably connected to the hook member, and means for applying tension to the tension member.

5 5. A trailer hitch for connecting a vehicle and a trailer comprising a ball rigidly connected to the vehicle, a socket rigidly connected to the trailer, the socket engaging rear and upper faces of the ball, means for retaining the socket against 0 the ball, a tension member extending below the plane of the ball and socket connection, one end of the tension member being connected to the trailer at a point remote from the ball and socket connection, a hook pivoted to the vehicle at a point below the ball, the other end of the tension member being connected to the hook, the hook being pivoted to swing in a vertical plane along the vehicle axis, resilient means carried by the vehicle for resisting swinging of the hook to the rear, and means for applying tension to the tension member.

6. A trailer hitch for connecting a vehicle and a trailer comprising a ball rigidly connected to the vehicle, a socket rigidly connected to the trailer, the socket engaging rear and. upper faces of the ball, means for retaining the socket against the ball, a tension member extending below the plane of the ball and socket connection, one end of the tension member being connected to the trailer at a point remote from the ball and socket connection, a hook pivoted to the vehicle at a point below the ball, the other end of the tension member being connected to the hook, the hook being pivoted to swing in a vertical 5 plane along the vehicle axis, resilient means carried by the vehicle for resisting swinging of the hook to the rear, and means for applying tension to the tension member, said last named means comprising a jack carried by the trailer having a foot engaging an intermediate portion of the tension member.

7. In a trailer hitch for connecting a vehicle and a trailer comprising a pivoted connection between rigid members of the vehicle and trailer, a tension member connecting the vehicle and trailer, said tension member being located below the pivotally connected rigid members, one end of said tension member being connected to a rigid portion of the trailer, resiliently yielding means carried by the vehicle, said means comprising a hook member pivoted to the vehicle in a plane below the ball and pivoted to swing in a vertical plane along the axis of the vehicle, the hook having an intermediate forwardly ex- 8 tended rear face and a lower face located rear- Wardly of the intermediate face, a yoke pivoted to the vehicle in advance of the hook to swing in the same plane as the hook, the yoke carrying a compression spring adapted to selectively press against either the intermediate or lower rearward faces of the hook, the other end of the tension member being detachably connected to the hook and means for applying tension to the tension member.

DAVID D. AREHART.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gurney et a1. Mar. 11, 1941 Number 

